Donât know what else to do
Guys - Itâs been announced recently that the American Music Awards will be honoring me with the Artist of the Decade Award at this yearâs ceremony. Iâve been planning to perform a medley of my hits throughout the decade on the show. Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said that Iâm not allowed to perform my old songs on television because they claim that would be re-recording my music before Iâm allowed to next year. Additionally - and this isnât the way I had planned on telling you this news - Netflix has created a documentary about my life for the past few years. Scott and Scooter have declined the use of my older music or performance footage for this project, even though there is no mention of either of them or Big Machine Records anywhere in the film.
Scott Borchetta told my team that theyâll allow me to use my music only if I do these things: If I agree to not re-record copycat versions of my songs next year (which is something Iâm both legally allowed to do and looking forward to) and also told my team that I need to stop talking about him and Scooter Braun.
I feel very strongly that sharing what is happening to me could change the awareness level for other artists and potentially help them avoid a similar fate. The message being sent to me is very clear. Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or youâll be punished.
This is WRONG. Neither of these men had a hand in the writing of those songs. They did nothing to create the relationship I have with my fans. So this is where Iâm asking for your help.
Please let Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun know how you feel about this. Scooter also manages several artists who I really believe care about other artists and their work. Please ask them for help with this - Iâm hoping that maybe they can talk some sense into the men who are exercising tyrannical control over someone who just wants to play the music she wrote. Iâm especially asking for help from The Carlyle Group, who put up money for the sale of my music to these two men.
I just want to be able to perform MY OWN music. Thatâs it. Iâve tried to work this out privately through my team but have not been able to resolve anything. Right now my performance at the AMAâs, the Netflix documentary and any other recorded events I am planning to play until November of 2020 are a question mark.
I love you guys and I thought you should know whatâs been going on.
Taylor
